Reflecting on the year that was
It’s wild to think we’ve nearly wrapped our first full year of podcasting. When Jolene and I (Nicole) hit record for the first time, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, or how much we’d both grow along the way. Coming from opposite sides of the political aisle (I’m liberal, she’s conservative), our goal was simple but ambitious: have the hard conversations that most people avoid, and do it with curiosity, candor, and a bit of humor.
Looking back, it’s honestly been a labor of love. Sure, we were both nervous at first; what if we argued on air? What if nobody listened? But what we found was something far richer: a genuine friendship that’s only deepened, and a surprising amount of common ground on issues we once thought divided us. Turns out, when you get past the labels and actually talk, you realise just how much you share.
If you’d told me a year ago we’d record nearly 50 episodes, I’d have laughed. The work that goes into producing a podcast - planning, researching, editing, wrangling schedules, was a lot more than I had anticipated. But it’s been a joy. One of the absolute highlights? Interviewing Monica Guzman. Having a guest who lives and breathes the art of bridge-building validates everything we’re trying to do. It was a reminder that these conversations matter, even (or especially) when they’re tough.
And tough they have been. Some topics like the Pro-Life/Pro Choice conversation or America’s gun policies pushed us out of our comfort zones. We didn’t always agree, but we always learned something. Those episodes forced us to listen harder, dig deeper, and sometimes just sit with the discomfort of not having all the answers.
Looking ahead, we’re more energised than ever. Our “dream guest” list for 2026 is growing. We’re also excited to mix in more listener-requested topics. Some of our best episodes have come straight from your DMs and emails. We’re manifesting more guest interview episodes too. Above all, we’re doubling down on our mission: bridging divides, shortening the distance between perspectives, and proving that civil, candid dialogue is still possible even in a country obsessed with proving the other side wrong.
To everyone who’s listened, shared, or sent in a question—thank you. Your voices, your curiosity, and your willingness to engage are what make this podcast a community, not just a show. We want to hear from you: What should we tackle next? Who should we invite on? What’s keeping you up at night, or giving you hope?
As we sign off for the year, we’re grateful for every moment, every disagreement, and every connection we’ve made along the way. Here’s to a 2026 full of bold conversations, big laughs, and maybe (we can hope) a little less drama.
With gratitude,
Nicole & Jolene
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Episodes:
https://youtu.be/NO-JBTsLaJQ?si=CJXW8kgAWB0rrqPr
https://youtu.be/DqoLxk0-Yqk?si=DM8D1SI0bm3LW_UD
https://youtu.be/A7YWXtWFmUY?si=Fm46ebPKwhvS-t_k
https://youtu.be/80c6RbRn6uY?si=oiHHbdEkfqpDlIpU
https://youtu.be/CCX1dN1nmvQ?si=4mASIe3l1dHMwfUQ
https://youtu.be/5wtPeP8XwAk?si=ARDCTXaE1IebUvJ2
https://youtu.be/AbH8U7m5kos?si=kKFQIsybFSbhB1Zu
https://youtu.be/qydEt3wbPXQ?si=UNyUEa_LO-qpE4r6
https://youtu.be/f8uozb6VN9k?si=mDg9qxQCucuKB_fH
https://youtu.be/xkXscmE9l_s?si=uRXBula4h5qBgljI
https://youtu.be/V7Wyw5uZegc?si=qpUQ227NwkVwyB4T
https://youtu.be/qS2O1rgf2YM?si=FUcxIQ48ig-2YWW_
https://youtu.be/pBmP42Mmamw?si=qqCFona0O8B1d5N6
https://youtu.be/E-gH6CVSFGk?si=JkS2XMpUeK_BOS_Y
Independent News Sources:
Good for the Soul:
https://www.instagram.com/love_animalsgram/
https://www.instagram.com/maxinem_x/
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[00:00:00] nicole: She's conservative and I'm liberal, and yet we've been friends for almost 40 years. Everyone says you shouldn't discuss politics, religion, or money. And we say, that's exactly what friends should be talking about. us as we tackle the conversations you're having in your head, but are too scared to say out loud. Hello, Jolene.
[00:00:21] Jolene: Hello and welcome to we've got to Talk. We have gotten to talk for almost a whole year.
[00:00:28] nicole: it's true. It's true. Can you believe it, Jolene?
[00:00:32] Jolene: Uh, no, I can't, I can't believe and in, in preparation for this show, we are, we're doing a yearend review
[00:00:40] nicole: Yes,
[00:00:41] Jolene: and so I've had to go back through and I'm like. Wait, it seems like we did that like two weeks ago and that was our subject almost a year ago.
[00:00:50] nicole: I think we've recorded 48 or 49 episodes so far,
[00:00:54] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:00:55] nicole: I love you more today than I did a year ago,
[00:00:59] Jolene: I [00:01:00] know and I think about that how, how a year ago, like you and I would talk like every couple months or six months or, you know, and so I mean, being able to see you every week,
[00:01:12] nicole: been amazing.
[00:01:13] Jolene: what's been the thing that surprised you the most about this year, about this journey?
[00:01:18] nicole: this whole experience has been. So incredible. from the idea and thinking, oh, this can't be too hard to find it, to then deep diving and saying, oh wait, you have to do video, and Oh, wait, like, because of being an actor and being in the voice of a world, was like, I, this isn't a hobby.
[00:01:41] This is a job and I want this to kill. I want this to be fantastic. So all of a sudden it was like. Whoa, this is a ton of work. and. Really exciting to learn something new and be
[00:01:56] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:01:56] nicole: it. Like I had no idea what I was doing. [00:02:00] And I'm also to asking you who'd barely heard a podcast before? Hey, come, come
[00:02:07] Jolene: Do a what?
[00:02:07] nicole: me and I'm gonna teach you what Mike to get, like all the things and so. That has been such a gift to sort of use my brain in a different way, and also, as we've talked about so many times in this podcast. Looking at the news in such a different way, um,
[00:02:26] Jolene: Hmm. Yeah.
[00:02:27] nicole: an incredible gift and, it's such a vulnerable thing, what we're doing, and exposing
[00:02:35] You know, trusting that I'm gonna say some stupid things and that that's okay, you're gonna say some stupid things and that that's okay.
[00:02:42] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:02:43] nicole: and really just like putting it all out there and it all like warts and all, which I've always
[00:02:48] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:02:49] nicole: pretty consumed as an actor and a blah, blah, blah, that I, you know, what do I, what do I look like?
[00:02:57] What am I saying? Am I stupid? Blah, blah, blah. [00:03:00] And now I'm just like, okay, this is me. I'm not gonna get it all right.
[00:03:04] but I'm also consuming the news and learning in a way that
[00:03:08] Jolene: hmm.
[00:03:09] nicole: don't, I feel like I can come to each session with you and have a pretty clear, um, idea about what's going on, which also makes
[00:03:19] Jolene: Hmm
[00:03:19] nicole: little less scary.
[00:03:22] Jolene: mm-hmm. Yeah.
[00:03:23] nicole: we know Jolene, the world can feel just huge and the news cycles can be overwhelming. and when we started, we're like, uh, we're not journalists. We're not pundits. What, what
[00:03:37] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:03:37] nicole: here? Where the journalists were like losing their minds. Because
[00:03:42] Jolene: Yeah. Right.
[00:03:43] nicole: there was like a thousand things happening. Well, how has this affected this podcast affected your life and your year? What's, what's it been like for you?
[00:03:51] Jolene: you know, I think I, when we first started this, I thought that it would be okay. You would have your liberal perspective. I would have the [00:04:00] conservative perspective and we'd both talk about it and agree to disagree and move on. You know, I knew that we have respectful conversations and respect for each other and love for each other, and, uh, you know, this friendship. I really thought we were gonna have separate views. And I think my, the most surprising thing for me is that, um, how similar our views are on a lot of different subjects. I also thought, and this is one of the things as I was going through the. Old episodes and stuff, how, when I first started, I had to take the stance of, of, I'm the Republican, I'm the conservative, and so I will espouse the conservative values.
[00:04:42] And how many times that I'm like, I can't, I can't stand behind that. Or that's not really what I believe. and I've appreciated that. I think you've done that too, and I've been surprised by things that you've said and I'm like, oh, well that's not what a typical liberal thinks. So I have been [00:05:00] surprised that just having a conversation between two friends has, has opened my eyes that, okay, I'm not putting.
[00:05:08] All liberals in this box and saying, they all think this, and I am a conservative, so I have to think this. And like, well, no, I, I don't.
[00:05:18] nicole: there have been times in the episodes where I'd be like, Jolene, you don't need to defend this, like it was something
[00:05:24] Jolene: right.
[00:05:25] nicole: that Trump had done and you're like. I don't, and I'm like, no. Like, that's the thing is that we're in this, Political landscape right now where we've talked about this before where like, I'm a liberal and I'm supposed to think this, this, this, and this, and you're a conservative. You're supposed to think this, this, this, and this. And if, God forbid, I think, well, I don't really, I'm not into that. Well then you are not part of my tribe anymore.
[00:05:51] Jolene: Yep.
[00:05:52] nicole: Like that's not
[00:05:53] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:05:54] nicole: human beings are layered and messy
[00:05:57] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:05:58] nicole: and I'm [00:06:00] sort of bored with it. Honestly. I feel like it's been very
[00:06:02] Jolene: yeah.
[00:06:03] nicole: to be, to do this podcast and to be like, oh, well, a lot of things we don't agree on, and that's okay.
[00:06:10] Jolene: Right. it's really been interesting To then do things that weren't political. You know, I think we, we decided there were a couple, we got really heavy there for a while and we were trying to hit all of like the hot button topics and then we finally said, no. How about we do one that just asks, you know, what was your first job and who was your first kiss?
[00:06:31] And um, and it's funny looking at the analytics. That one got a lot of views and was very popular, and we're like, okay, maybe everybody else is sick of listening to politics all day long, as you know in the news. So
[00:06:44] nicole: Do you have, uh, a favorite one or a favorite couple
[00:06:49] Jolene: I knew you were gonna ask me. I really enjoyed our interview with Monica Guzman. Like I, I loved being able to ask [00:07:00] questions of, of someone who is an expert in their field.
[00:07:02] nicole: Yes.
[00:07:03] Jolene: who's also trying to do the same things that we are doing, picking her brain and just having her, um, her expertise and, and her knowledge being able to really validate what we're doing, but also, you know, hearing the research that she's done.
[00:07:19] Uh, I just thought it was a fun dynamic that we both got to ask her questions from, from each of our,
[00:07:25] nicole: was super
[00:07:25] Jolene: perspectives.
[00:07:27] nicole: guest. Right.
[00:07:28] Jolene: I know. I know,
[00:07:29] nicole: I
[00:07:30] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:07:30] nicole: selfishly, I loved, one of my favorites was the in-person coming to your house and the
[00:07:37] Jolene: I know.
[00:07:38] nicole: and just being with you and talking about friendship and having the guys in the episode was hilarious and it just, it was, it was great.
[00:07:48] And I also honestly, Jolene. I, I don't know if I say it's my favorite or I loved it, but I really appreciated the episode where we swapped news media [00:08:00] sources for 10 days.
[00:08:00] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:08:01] nicole: that was such gosh. It was such a eyeopener and such a, I like listener and viewer. Please do yourself a favor and even if it's five days, but try it.
[00:08:14] It's a really enlightening experience to swap your news media sources and then understand that there are independent news sources that we talk about on this podcast all the time. MO News, tangle News, uh, straight Arrow News. We'll put those in the show notes. Check them out. They really. Like you can be a conservative and a liberal envy and just come to your own conclusions, but it's a real eye-opener, right?
[00:08:39] When you're watching or listening to, to
[00:08:42] Jolene: Completely.
[00:08:43] nicole: the left and the rights media and seeing, whoa, what have we been doing for years? What have I been consuming or believing, or
[00:08:53] Jolene: I think the thing that surprised me too were the, were the ones that we thought were the episodes that we thought were gonna be [00:09:00] really controversial, and then everybody was like, nah, nah, nah. I mean, you know, gun control, abortion, um, you know, those things. And people were like,
[00:09:10] nicole: I mean,
[00:09:11] Jolene: nah,
[00:09:11] nicole: Jolene,
[00:09:12] Jolene: whatever.
[00:09:12] nicole: was holding my breath for the pro-life, pro-choice episode. Like I
[00:09:18] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:09:19] nicole: to, to have that conversation with you, but I also knew it was gonna be okay because we've had conversations like that before and
[00:09:26] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:09:27] nicole: I also went into it with, for what it's worth, listener, viewer. Knowing that I was not trying to change your mind, which is really, I think, important when you're talking to people that don't think like you, that
[00:09:38] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:09:39] nicole: curious about why they believe what they believe.
[00:09:41] And so that part, I knew it was just gonna be a really interesting conversation, but boy was I nervous for what was gonna happen on YouTube and the comments. And I think we got none. I was like,
[00:09:56] Jolene: Eh,
[00:09:57] nicole: what? Gun control was [00:10:00] another story. Gun control.
[00:10:02] Jolene: yeah.
[00:10:03] nicole: was definitely nervous about it and I did a ton of research and your friends, your gun owning friends, your
[00:10:10] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:10:11] nicole: friends were so generous with me and my. Research and it was, it ended up being a really important co um, conversation and experience for me to learn about it.
[00:10:21] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:10:22] nicole: but there was a lot of, a lot of, um, a lot of comments on the
[00:10:29] Jolene: Yeah. Okay. What was from the analytics, what was our most wa I think the first episode was our most watched, right?
[00:10:37] nicole: But then what was a surprise, Joe was the second most how America got mean.
[00:10:45] Jolene: David Brooks. Article. Yeah.
[00:10:48] nicole: a, that was an episode where one of our, uh, listeners and viewers, gave us this article from the Atlantic, uh, and asked us to give our, our thoughts on it. And [00:11:00] If you go back to that episode, we have a link in the show notes where you can go to that article, um, and read that really, really interesting article. But, but I found the conversation really interesting and clearly resonant for our viewership because I feel like a lot of people are really tired how we're treating each other,
[00:11:21] Jolene: I thought it was interesting because that a lot of that carried over into our conversation with Monica Guzman. And like there were a lot of synergies between the two, um, the two people and, and really the research that she had done and, and the, the writings that David Brooks had had written about.
[00:11:40] So
[00:11:40] nicole: absolutely.
[00:11:41] Jolene: it's interesting.
[00:11:43] nicole: Was there a story year thought. was gonna stick and be huge and just sort of just sort of died
[00:11:54] Jolene: yeah, I think the, the Iran bombing, like, [00:12:00] I thought like that. Was huge. You know? It was, it was before.
[00:12:08] nicole: episode.
[00:12:09] That was during a time when every two seconds, there was another thing
[00:12:13] Jolene: There was something and there was something, and then there was,
[00:12:15] nicole: yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:12:17] Jolene: and I just thought that before we bombed Iran. it was the gonna be World War iii. Like if, if Trump decided to go in there with the B two bombers, it was going to be the beginning of World War iii. And
[00:12:32] nicole: did you
[00:12:33] Jolene: I mean,
[00:12:34] nicole: that on Fox? I,
[00:12:37] Jolene: I mean, I think I was getting that everywhere.
[00:12:39] nicole: really.
[00:12:40] Jolene: I mean, yeah, that, that was when, if, if we were going to go help. I mean, because the whole thing was if we were gonna go help Israel. Then we were getting involved. You know, we weren't just, you know, at that point we weren't just, um, supplying Israel with, with bombs and, and um, you know, [00:13:00] help military help.
[00:13:01] We were actually going to be part of it. We were going to be the aggressors. but then there was nothing like that Was it? And we're like, oh, okay, so it's either World War III or nothing. Like I, that was not on my bingo card. I mean, it was like, oh, okay.
[00:13:19] nicole: Well, it makes me think like how much the media hypes us up though, too gets us all riled up that we keep clicking and we keep watching and we keep hating when things are huge and
[00:13:34] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:13:36] nicole: aren't.
[00:13:37] Jolene: what was yours?
[00:13:38] nicole: mean, there were a couple things like Doge.
[00:13:42] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:13:42] nicole: Doge was. Huge. And I heard that they quietly disbanded last week
[00:13:52] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:13:52] nicole: weeks ago. Um, and of course Elon's doing his own [00:14:00] thing, like the bromance died and he went back to Tesla 'cause his, his board was pissed. They were losing money and now he's. cars again or whatever the hell he's doing, or rocket ships or, you know, it's just sort of like, it was so big and then it wasn't. and the grifting, when we did that episode
[00:14:22] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:14:23] nicole: About Trump's meme coin and all the money that man is making and their, his family is making, and it's sort of like, eh, and I think maybe just people are fatigued. I don't know. What do you think?
[00:14:39] Jolene: Well, I was gonna say, I think because it, it's starting to shed a light on how much. All Congress people are making and how we just are like, I, I mean, are we just, are we, are we just gonna turn our backs to this and not address the millionaires that are coming [00:15:00] out of after being in Congress? I mean, this is
[00:15:03] nicole: We did an episode where we talked about, uh, it's a OC and Republican representatives, uh, Brian Fitzpatrick, chip Roy, and Dusty Johnson. it's called the restore Trust in Congress Act. Restoring faith in the government act where there's these bills are aimed to prevent insider trading and increase public trust by prohibiting the ownership, purchase or sale of individual stocks, securities, and other similar assets by lawmakers, which you brought up early on in the podcast, Jolene, about Nancy Pelosi and. Which supposedly she actually is not as bad as some of the others. I don't know. and that's what Chip Roy said. I didn't say that. so I find it fascinating and, and thrilling that this bipartisan bill is
[00:15:52] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:15:53] nicole: I mean, who knows if it could pass, because all these people then won't get to make their money.
[00:15:58] I mean, the whole rumor [00:16:00] about Marrie Taylor Green, We never talked about her, and the rumors I'm hearing in the liberal world is that actually, uh, January 5th, she's retiring because January 4th she's getting vested, and supposedly she wanted to run for Senate and Trump said no. And so now she's on a rampage. Have you heard that?
[00:16:26] Jolene: I've not heard that?
[00:16:27] nicole: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't, I don't think, I don't think we're done with her. I think we're just getting started with that lady.
[00:16:35] Jolene: Yep. I think she's got a future doing something somewhere.
[00:16:40] nicole: somewhere.
[00:16:41] Jolene: not go
[00:16:41] nicole: No, she will not, and she'll be, she'll be wealthy because she's, she's been trading. And making some cash as a Congress person,
[00:16:50] Jolene: Didn't we say that it is already, it's illegal for congressmen and women to be [00:17:00] trading. So why
[00:17:01] nicole: Is it illegal because they're doing it?
[00:17:03] Jolene: did, well, so I think they're doing it, you know, they, they have to put their assets in a blind trust or something, but that, does that mean that they can tell their spouse to, Hey, might wanna
[00:17:17] nicole: Well, if they're creating an act, another bill saying you can't trade, then they are trading,
[00:17:21] Jolene: was there an episode where your mind was changed from when we started?
[00:17:28] nicole: there are two that I, I definitely had a hard time with and this was early on. it was deep in the Israeli Palestinian conflict and you wanted. To talk about it and you wanted my perspective as a half Jewish person and with a lot of Jewish family, and, and I was so nervous about it it felt like a huge responsibility and I didn't wanna
[00:17:57] Jolene: Hmm.
[00:17:58] nicole: let anybody down.
[00:17:59] And it's [00:18:00] such a thick history that I was. Just, oh my gosh. I know I'm gonna say something wrong, but it ended up being okay It almost like changed my own mind, if that makes sense. Like there was a lot of anticipatory anxiety with that one, but then once we started talking about it, and I could sort of just come from my own experience that it didn't feel as scary anymore.
[00:18:33] As like Monica Guzman said
[00:18:36] Jolene: awesome.
[00:18:36] nicole: the interview, that will have aired by now that like everyone has a story. Everyone is a storyteller. And so if you wanna ask somebody a hard question or something you don't actually maybe agree with when you ask how, or. Did you come to that and you hear their story, it's, you can't really get mad at their [00:19:00] story.
[00:19:00] It's theirs. Right? It's theirs. And I think the other one, Jolene, that I, and I think you'll agree with this, that was surprising and difficult and painful and bonding was the Charlie Kirk episode.
[00:19:15] we both were. Just so sad and so emotional, and I think it was, surprising maybe that we both the liberal and the conservative were heartbroken right, and that there was a platform here that we could share that together I think was important.
[00:19:40] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:19:41] I think we got so much better. I mean, I, I look at our very first couple of episodes to, um, our last couple of of episodes here, and I think, uh, you know, uh, we got so much better. I mean, you're. are so used to your voice and [00:20:00] being on screen and having a, a presence and, and your intonation is thoughtful and I'm just the
[00:20:08] nicole: No. No, that's not true. That's not true. I've,
[00:20:12] Jolene: I get,
[00:20:12] nicole: I feel like we're, we're both finding a voice, right? I think. Right. Which is really exciting.
[00:20:18] Jolene: Yeah, and think that, that we're, we're getting into a rhythm too, of, of being able to, to do this. The, in an interesting that makes us more interesting, makes the show more interesting maybe. I, I hope it's more engaging
[00:20:32] nicole: Yes.
[00:20:33] Jolene: And, I was gonna say, I also had a lot of different glasses and hairstyles as I looked back
[00:20:41] nicole: Yes, you have.
[00:20:42] Jolene: Episodes. How, how does that happen
[00:20:45] nicole: I know. It's crazy.
[00:20:46] Jolene: Like if it was eight years, I'd go, oh
[00:20:48] nicole: Well, I look at the first couple episodes, I'm like, oh my God, we seem like babies not right. Not like we look, but it's just, we just seem different. And I think, I [00:21:00] think we are figuring out, like you said at the very beginning of this episode is that while as we're finding our voices, we're realizing, yeah, we come from different places.
[00:21:11] We believe different things. We, Live in totally different areas, and yet we aren't just one thing. And I think at the beginning of this podcast, when we first started, it was like, oh, I need to tow the liberal line and you need to tow the conservative line. And now we're like, no, let's talk about this.
[00:21:36] Jolene: yeah,
[00:21:36] nicole: about this really difficult subject. And yes, you're gonna come from a different angle. But that doesn't mean you, it's not nuanced because I think that's what we're learning.
[00:21:48] Jolene: What do you see for 2026?
[00:21:50] nicole: there are some. Uh, topics that I'm really interested in tapping into, and I'm not sure because of the Christmas [00:22:00] holiday, who knows? You know, every day it seems like there's a huge story, right? And then it,
[00:22:07] Jolene: Yeah. Right.
[00:22:08] nicole: so, a couple stories that are hot right now as we're recording, which will be. Several weeks when this airs.
[00:22:16] It will have been several weeks ago, but I'm, uh, the Pete Hegseth debacle. I am really, I don't even, I don't even, I don't even that I wanna talk about with the. The shooting or, um, shooting the boats, the, the Venezuelan boats with the pardoning of the, uh, Honduran president? No, no, no, not Maduro. Uh, the Honduran, um, Hernandez, the, the cocaine drug pin.
[00:22:49] Jolene: Oh, oh,
[00:22:50] nicole: Right. So that I'm like, there's so much, of course, uh, uh, uh, contradiction and God I wanna talk about it, but [00:23:00] we, we. With everyone's schedules and our producer's schedule. It's not gonna happen, y'all, it might happen in 2026 if it just gets worse. So
[00:23:09] Jolene: I, because I feel
[00:23:11] nicole: right, there's more to be said. So that's something that I really wish we could delve into right now.
[00:23:16] But we've started a dream list of guests, y'all. And I am really excited about 2026 and excited to have, I'm just manifesting some of these people to come on our show so that we can,
[00:23:32] Jolene: there.
[00:23:33] nicole: you know, ask the questions that people want to talk about and, like, and really bridge build in a way that from the conservative and from the liberal side, because I think, um.
[00:23:46] That's what this is. We've got to talk is about, and I think there are so many of us that are ready for this.
[00:23:53] Jolene: Totally. And so listener, this is your cue to let us know what
[00:23:58] nicole: Yes.
[00:23:59] Jolene: like to [00:24:00] us to talk about. What would you like to hear, uh, from us or what perspective, um, do you have that you think, um. That we should discuss. So if you've got something, please out to us on our website. We've got to talk.com and, um, or any of our
[00:24:17] nicole: Yes,
[00:24:18] Jolene: Facebook and Instagram. um, yeah,
[00:24:21] nicole: TikTok,
[00:24:22] Jolene: what, what
[00:24:23] nicole: LinkedIn, you name it.
[00:24:26] Jolene: YouTube.
[00:24:27] nicole: YouTube for sure. Yeah. Give us topics. We're happy to, I mean, we just yesterday aired the Alice episode and that was a, uh, listener, viewer, uh, topic.
[00:24:41] Jolene: Yes, my friend Kirby, who works for the United Way, make sure you, that you get to watch it, listen to it, because it really is a great episode
[00:24:49] nicole: That
[00:24:50] Jolene: that I think transcends. Either political party, and really just talks about, the working poor and what is now called Alice, [00:25:00] um, asset limited, income constrained, employed. So, yeah, we would love to have you listen to that and, and, um, would love to do more of those. Yeah, for sure.
[00:25:11] nicole: is there anything
[00:25:13] else about this past year or or hopes for this coming year that you have? Jolene.
[00:25:20] Jolene: I hope there's less drama and. Uh, which I don't think is gonna happen. 'cause I think, I think for as long as Trump is in office, there's going to be
[00:25:33] nicole: Yes.
[00:25:33] Jolene: And whether it is, part of the Trump der syndrome or if it's made by him, it's gonna happen. So I feel like we've got our work
[00:25:47] nicole: Yeah.
[00:25:48] Jolene: us for the
[00:25:48] nicole: Yes, I do. I I do too. I do too. Is there anything, any topics that you are anxious to talk about or is there anything like in the news [00:26:00] right now that we're like, oh, we just have to hold
[00:26:01] Jolene: I think it'll be interesting to see what happens with Schumer. I think, um, I don't
[00:26:07] nicole: What do you mean?
[00:26:08] Jolene: some things will change. I think that he's probably not going to be in a leadership position much much
[00:26:16] nicole: longer Is that, is that what the right is saying?
[00:26:19] Jolene: I think after this last, you know, the shutdown and then they had the, um, the, the group of Democrats who came and said, Nope, we're done with this.
[00:26:32] I think He lost his credibility and couldn't keep his party together. And so I think people are going to, to, uh, rebel against him. I think what, you know, interesting the whole Mamdani thing. You know, I think we had, um, we did a, whole podcast on Mamdani which I think would be really interesting to go back and listen to.
[00:26:54] This was, This was like in October, it was like a month before the election or
[00:26:58] nicole: Yeah.
[00:26:59] Jolene: Yeah. it [00:27:00] was probably a month
[00:27:00] nicole: Yeah,
[00:27:02] Jolene: and to see how now and Trump are buddies,
[00:27:06] nicole: they're, yes. They're having a bromance for the moment. I mean, we shall see. We shall see. We might need to do another Mom Donny episode in 2026 and revisit what's going on here. I.
[00:27:19] Jolene: Yeah, I think, yeah, that'll be interesting to see and, and interesting to see if he truly is. I, I know that I said this in that episode that he's the leader of the Democratic Party and, um, it'll be interesting to see if it's Gavin. We did an episode on Gavin. What's Gavin's future
[00:27:35] nicole: right.
[00:27:36] Jolene: like? Um, so I, I am, I'm excited because I feel like we really touched on a lot of topics that are. are
[00:27:44] nicole: Yes.
[00:27:45] Jolene: now. I mean, we, we talked about them maybe even before their time
[00:27:50] nicole: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:27:52] Jolene: that clairvoyance
[00:27:53] nicole: don't know. I don't know. we haven't done an episode on Pete, Pete Buttigieg, who I think is a [00:28:00] pretty solid Democrat. He's also a dream guest. Pete. Pete, come on. Come on. it'll be interesting what happens in 2026. Are there any republicans that you're digging right now or that you wanna, that you're looking out for?
[00:28:18] I've, I've shouted out to Spencer Cox.
[00:28:21] Jolene: mean, I think JD Vance is getting a lot of publicity, um, just because I think right now people are saying it's going to be a JD Vance versus, um, Gavin
[00:28:32] nicole: Really.
[00:28:34] Jolene: um, election.
[00:28:35] nicole: that's what's
[00:28:36] Jolene: So,
[00:28:37] nicole: right is saying this.
[00:28:38] Jolene: putting that out into the
[00:28:39] nicole: Oh my God.
[00:28:40] Jolene: now. So let's, let's see if that comes to fruition. There's a lot that can happen in the
[00:28:46] nicole: That's right. That's right.
[00:28:48] Jolene: there's nobody that floats my boat
[00:28:51] nicole: I know it's hard. It's hard.
[00:28:54] Jolene: yeah, I think that we're just in a really strange time [00:29:00] and, um, I think we'll continue to be in
[00:29:02] nicole: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think you're right, James Larico. I know he's not. I know.
[00:29:10] Jolene: yeah.
[00:29:10] nicole: I just really, I really like him.
[00:29:13] Jolene: Yep.
[00:29:14] nicole: I really, yeah. We'll see what happens.
[00:29:16] Jolene: against, um,
[00:29:19] nicole: going against,
[00:29:19] Jolene: guy that you loved.
[00:29:21] nicole: is strong. Um, Cornin. John Cornin,
[00:29:25] Jolene: Yeah. John
[00:29:26] nicole: I wish he went, was going against the other guy. But, um, so be it.
[00:29:32] Jolene: I was just gonna say, well, here's to, I, we've had such a great year. I mean, who would've thunk that we would get to this place? And I'm so glad that we did. I'm excited to see what the next year brings for us. I think both, um, from our podcast and professionally and um, and more trips for you and Josh to come to the
[00:29:52] nicole: Yes.
[00:29:52] Jolene: and for Jeff and I to
[00:29:54] nicole: Yes, that would be amazing.
[00:29:57] Jolene: for
[00:29:57] nicole: I'm excited for 26
[00:29:58] Jolene: are lots of.
[00:29:59] nicole: and I'm, [00:30:00] and I'm exci. I'm excited that. You are excited to do this? No, 'cause I like, there are times when I'm, you know, life is big and has, we all have a lot of stuff and this takes a certain amount of effort in our life every week. And I really. The insecure part of me is like, oh my gosh, is she still wanting to do this?
[00:30:25] And I'm so excited about it and I, I really hope she wants to do it, but I don't wanna pressure her and all of those things
[00:30:33] Jolene: Oh
[00:30:33] nicole: when I, 'cause I'm a human. 'cause I think all of those things. And so I'm thrilled that you seem like you still wanna do this thing with me.
[00:30:44] Jolene: My gosh. I know. I absolutely do. And I love that this is such a, this is so different from my job. And so I love doing it because it's, it's, it for, you know, a couple hours a week I get to, you [00:31:00] know, step out and do something completely different. And that is, it probably keeps me sane as well.
[00:31:07] nicole: Yay. Yay.
[00:31:10] Jolene: I love, I've
[00:31:11] nicole: Oh, I'm so thrilled. I'm so thrilled. Do you have a good for the soul?
[00:31:16]
[00:31:20] Jolene: is called Love Animals Gram.
[00:31:25] nicole: Wait a minute. Hold on a second. I gotta look this up.
[00:31:28] Jolene: So, I mean, look at that first post right there. And it's a girl. It's this cute girl, POV, trying to flirt with the handsome boy sitting across from you. And it's a dog.
[00:31:40] nicole: Oh,
[00:31:41] Jolene: That is absolutely me.
[00:31:42] nicole: my Good for the Soul. I shared this with you the other day.
[00:31:46] Her name is Maxine Ner, and her handle is, I'm, I'm just gonna spell it. M-A-X-I-N-E-M-X. She's a [00:32:00] poet, a storyteller, a silly, serious goose, and she is a spoken word performer.
[00:32:07] And I sent Jolene this, um, video of her and she wrote this poem, I guess basically about hope. You think it was about hope?
[00:32:18] Jolene: Mm-hmm.
[00:32:19] nicole: so. Moving and beautiful and just do yourself a favor and follow her. It's amazing.
[00:32:26] Jolene: yeah.
[00:32:27] nicole: And she just had a post where she was like, oh my gosh, thank you. She just had a post that 2 million of you liked.
[00:32:34] Isn't that amazing? 2 million? Where do these people come from?
[00:32:38] Jolene: and she, and she was like
[00:32:40] nicole: Yeah,
[00:32:41] Jolene: too. She's like, I can't figure out what to do with my
[00:32:43] nicole: right.
[00:32:44] Jolene: and I don't I'm, but, but she was
[00:32:47] nicole: Yeah.
[00:32:47] Jolene: cow, when she did that, I'm like,
[00:32:50] nicole: Wow.
[00:32:50] Jolene: that's
[00:32:51] nicole: Very impressive. So follow that girl. do you have a, would you rather,
[00:33:01] Jolene: would you rather relive your best day in this last year or erase your worst day this last year?
[00:33:17] nicole: That is so good,
[00:33:20] Jolene: Isn't that good?
[00:33:21] nicole: I would relive my best day. Hand. Hands down. Hands down.
[00:33:26] Jolene: what I
[00:33:26] nicole: I'm like, oh, I, and I'm thinking, which one? Which is so great that I feel that way.
[00:33:33] Jolene: oh,
[00:33:35] nicole: Yeah.
[00:33:35] Jolene: is really
[00:33:36] nicole: Yeah. I would relive it. Relive it. '
[00:33:39] Jolene: Yeah,
[00:33:40] nicole: I could really pay attention to it. I mean, you always know when you have ring a really good day, but if you, it's like Groundhog Day, but really good Groundhog Day, right.
[00:33:53] Jolene: Yeah.
[00:33:54] nicole: All right. All right.
[00:33:55] Jolene: What's yours?
[00:33:56] nicole: Would you rather be the absolute [00:34:00] best at something that no one takes seriously?
[00:34:07] Jolene: Okay.
[00:34:08] nicole: Or be average at something well respected?
[00:34:12] Jolene: Oh, I think average and be well respected. Yeah.
[00:34:18] I,
[00:34:18] nicole: No, no. You, no. You're average at something that people, that, that the topic is well respected. You're not well respected,
[00:34:28] Jolene: oh.
[00:34:31] nicole: so you're gonna be, you're the, you're like the absolute best at being that no one takes seriously. Like what would that be like? Blowing bubbles, burp, burping, burping. Burping or
[00:34:47] Jolene: okay.
[00:34:47] nicole: average at some, like at being a lawyer, you're an average lawyer
[00:34:53] Jolene: Oh.
[00:34:54] nicole: or you're an an amazing burper The best, actually, the best [00:35:00] burper the best burper Listen these days with fricking social media, you might
[00:35:09] become like a bazillionaire because you are the most amazing burper
[00:35:12] Jolene: because that is, no one has heard a burp better
[00:35:16] nicole: That's right. These, these times, man, these times.
[00:35:20] Jolene: Yeah. Okay, then I wanna be the very best
[00:35:23] nicole: at something best burber and then you, and then you're gonna,
[00:35:27] Jolene: love to
[00:35:27] nicole: right. And then you're gonna have a social media presence with your burping and you're gonna make bank. 'cause that's where we are right now, girl.
[00:35:36] Jolene: Hmm. Okay.
[00:35:38] nicole: I don't know how I feel about this question that I just asked you.
[00:35:41] Jolene: Because 'cause you know what? That's
[00:35:46] nicole: That's the world we live in, y'all. So on that note, please like and subscribe and click the follow hit, hit those algorithms in there. And if you want for 2026 to be a sponsor [00:36:00] of, we've Got To Talk. We would love that.
[00:36:03] Jolene: love
[00:36:04] nicole: this community. We're building this podcast, and we would love for you to be part of that process with us.
[00:36:10] And if you're interested or you have a business that, uh, that you know that could be interested in being a, we've got to talk sponsor, please go to our website. We've got to talk.com and go to the contact page and give us a shout out and we will write you right back. Happy New Year everyone. Happy 2026. Thank you so much for, for, for listening and watching and being with us. We so appreciate it. Right, Jolene?
[00:36:36] Jolene: 100%. Yes.
[00:36:38] nicole: to 2026. Bye.
[00:36:42] Jolene: Bye-bye.
[00:36:43]
